Living as Exiles in a Viral World
Article by Edward Sim | 12 February 2020
The past few weeks have been greeted by anxiety and worry. We’ve seen public response range from panic buying to internet memes mocking such behaviour. At the very least, folks like myself have spent too much time poring over every bit of news regarding the spread of the coronavirus both locally and regionally.
As Christians, we should not be shocked by our hearts responding to the pressures exerted upon us in these ways—ways that mirror the world instead of God’s word.
The book of 1 Peter helps us at such a time as this—because it is written to Christians who were under tremendous pressure (1 Peter 1:6). External pressures can have the following effect on us, causing us to 1) withdraw from the world, 2) compromise with the world or 3) to set ourselves against the world.
At the heart of 1 Peter is this passage:
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11–12 ESV)
This passage instructs Christians to engage with the world, even in difficult times. If anything, these verses can be applied to say that we Christians are ready to die more than anyone else, and hence equipped to live and serve God and others more than anyone else.
1. We cannot withdraw from the world.
First, verse 11 speaks of our relationship to this world as sojourners and exiles. This implies that more than anyone else, we should not be surprised by whatever our current situation is. We live in a world broken by sin, and yet this world is not our ultimate destination. Just as God fulfilled the promise that the exiled Israelites will return to Jerusalem, so God also will fulfil his promise to bring his people into the new Jerusalem.
This speaks to how we should face our fears as we contemplate the possibility of disease and death. While we should not be reckless, we can face brokenness with hope instead of fear because we know the One who has triumphed over death by his resurrection and will one day come back. We cannot withdraw from the world.
2. We must not compromise with the world.
Second, the same verse speaks of our relationships with ourselves, having the need to abstain from the passions of the flesh. This points to our identity as sinners who continue to struggle with our inward depravity. This would have two implications for us, personally and corporately. We need to beware of the passions of the flesh that leads us either to cave into irrational fear on one hand or self-righteous indignation on the other. Rather, such an awareness of our inward weakness should make us view our neighbours with compassion and empathy—for we should understand the fear and anxiety that belies their behaviour more than anyone else. And yet we can do so, without excusing their sin nor our own. We must not compromise with the world.
3. We must walk in step with our Saviour.
That brings us to the final point where the last verse speaks of how we ought to keep our conduct honourable among those who have yet to believe in Jesus. Again, there are two implications for us in the current situation. Christians more than others, because of how we can face the brokenness in this world, are ready to undertake risks so that we can serve and love others—good deeds that glorify God. Christians should not only reject xenophobia and irrational fear, but to serve and care for others, and not only those of their own tribe. The early Christians earned notoriety for taking care of everyone during the plagues while the rest of the world simply looked out for their own kind.
As we serve and love others, we are to hold out to them this gospel of grace that gives us hope. A grace that speaks of a gentle Saviour who lived as an exile here on earth, and only for the joy set before him in heaven. A Saviour who did not excuse the sins of others though he had no sins of his own. Yet, he has not come to judge but to be judged in their place. A Saviour who loved the world while being hung upon the cross. A time may come when the world shall despise Christians for taking risks to care for those in need, risking exposure in order to care for others. A time may come when the world may despise Christians for insisting that the man upon the cross is their only hope. A time may come when the world speaks against Christians as evildoers—and may we find ourselves, at that moment, to resemble our crucified Saviour more than ever.
Let us walk in his footsteps. Let us love the world in the way he did.
Article by Edward Sim. Ed is a pastor at Redemption Hill Church, and is a leader of 3rd Congregation.